Ilex hybrid variety named `Conal`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Ilex plant found as an openly pollinated seedling of Ilex Hybrid `Mary Nell`. The new vareity expresses a very high concentration of anthocyanin in new growth which matures to a semi-glossy green color. This plant is superior in development of a dense, upright, pyramidal shaped canopy with attractive spiny leaves and an abundance of red fruit.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The new Ilex variety was found as an openly pollinated seedling of Ilex`Mary Nell`, an unpatented variety, maintained in the Evergreen Nurseryat Poplarville, Miss. The seedling was found in May, 1989. The new anddistinct Ilex Hybrid plant of this invention comprises a novel andvaluable holly plant of erect pyramidal habit and attractivereddish-purple new growth. The new growth of this plant is interestinglyand clearly red due to anthocyanin, which is of distinctly higherconcentration than in the parent variety. As with the parent plant, theplant of this invention may be advantageously employed as a specimenappointment, in either formal or informal groupings, and is veryattractive in mass plantings. This plant is responsive to pruning andtraining and may be used in forming dense, attractive hedges, andmaintained without an excessive amount of care.

Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings has been under Mr.Magee's direction at the same location. Several generations of the newplant have been evaluated and the distinctive characteristics of theplant have remained stable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinquishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticulatural practices in Poplarville, Miss.

1. Dense, upright, and pyramidal in nature.

2. The Reddish/Purple color of the new foliage is unique and offers anovel and strikingly appelaing contrast of new foliage to old foliage inplants of this market class.

3. Hardy to Zone 7.

4. Heat and drought tolerant.

5. Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and moisture conditions.

6. Tolerates most soils from moist to dry and from sand to clay.

7. Relatively pest resistant.

8. Makes a very good hedge or screen.

9. Easy to root from cuttings collected any time of year.

10. Very desirable in planters.

11. Produces attractive red fruit in the fall which persist into thewinter and may result in bird visitation.

12. Has the ability to be sheared and trimmed to be kept withinprescribed limits.

13. Mature leaves are a semi-glossy rich green color with attractivespines.

14. Easily trained into a small tree.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The new Ilex Hybrid variety is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographic prints in which:

FIG. 1 discloses the dense, upright, pyramidal shape, and thereddish/purple new growth of the new variety.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the attractive red fruit and maturefoliage of the new variety.

FIG. 3 is a side-by-side photograph of (from left to right) the parentplant Ilex Hybrid `Mary Nell`, the new variety, and Ilex Hybrid `NelleR. Stevens`. The mid-winter photogrpah shows the new variety's dense,upright, pyramidal shape and slightly lighter mature foliage color.

FIG. 4 is also a side-by-side photograph illustrating the leaf shapesand sizes of (from left to right) the parent plant Ilex Hybrid `MaryNell`, the new variety, and the Ilex Hybrid `Nellie R. Stevens`. Alsoevident is the semi-glossy leaf of the new variety compared to theglossy leaves of the other varieties.

The colors shown are as true as is reasonably possible to obtain byconventional photographic procedures. The colors of the various plantparts are defined with reference to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart. Description of colors in ordinary terms are presentedwhere appropriate for clarity in meaning.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new variety of Ilex basedon my observations made of plants grown in wholesale commercialproduction practices, in greenhouses, and established landscapeplantings in Poplarvilel, Miss.

    ______________________________________    Distinctive Characteristics:                                     `Nellie R.    Characteristic             `Conal`     `Mary Nell` Stevens`    ______________________________________    Height   15-20'      15-20'      15-25'    (Mature)    Width    12-15'      12-15'      12-15'    (Mature)    Leaf Length             2 3/8-3 3/4"                         2 5/8-3 1/2"                                     2 1/4-3"    Leaf Width             1 1/8-1 1/2 1 1/8-1 3/4"                                     1-1 1/2"    Leaf Color             Greyed-Purple                         Yellow-     Yellow-Green    (Immature)             Group 187A  Green       Group 144A                         Group                         144A    Leaf Color             Closest to  Green       Green    (Mature) Green       Group       Group 139A             Group 139A  139A    Leaf     Semi-       Very glossy Glossy    Glossiness             Glossy    (Mature)    Leaf Shape             Ovate to    Ovate to    Ovate             Lanceolate  broadly                         Lanceolate    Leaf Spines             9-11        9-11        2-3    (Pairs)    Fruit Color             Red         Red Group   Orange-Red             Group 53A   40A         Group 33A    Flower Sex             Female only Female only Female only    Leaf Base             Obtuse      Obtuse      Obtuse    Mature Shape             Upright     Upright     Upright             Pyramidal   Pyramidal   Pyramidal                                     rounded                                     with age    Hardiness             Zone 7      Zone 7      Zone 6    ______________________________________

The parent plant of the new variety `Conal` is Ilex `Mary Nell` whichoriginated from a controlled cross made in 1962 by Joe McDaniel at TomDodd Nursery in Semmes, Ala. The female parent was Ilex (cornuta`Burfordii`×pernyi) `Red Delight`, a selection of Henry Hohman,Kingsville Nursery, Kingsville, Md. The male parent was Ilex latifolia.Ilex `Mary Nell` was named in 1981 by Thomas H. Dodd, Jr. after JoeMcDaniel's wife.

Ilex Hybrid `Nellie R. Stevens`, which is very popular in the industry,is a hybrid between Ilex aquifolium and Ilex cornuta. It was released byG. A. Van-Lennep, Jr., St. Michael, Md., in 1954. It is named for theowner, Nellie R. Stevens, Oxford, Md. This non-patented plant iscomparable to the new plant, however, there are many differences. Theimmature foliage of the new variety is Grey-Purple Group 187A comparedto Yellow-Green Group 144A of Ilex `Nellie R. Stevens'. The new varietyalso has more spines 9-11 compared to 2-3, and is less rounded with age.

It is from the openly pollinated seedlings of the Ilex `Mary Nell` plantthat I found the new plant. This new variety will be sold under thetrademark Cardinal.

Classification:

Botanic.--Ilex Hybrid `Conal`.

Form: Dense, upright, and pyramidal.

Texture: Medium to coarse.

Heights: 15-20'.

Width 12-15'.

Growth habit; Upright, dense, and pyramidal shrub or small tree. Fastgrowth rate under normal fertilization and moisture conditions.

Foliage: Alternate, simple, evergreen ovate to lanceolate, and vary insize from 23/8-33/4" long and 11/8-11/2" wide. The margins are serratewith 9-11 pairs of prominent spines. Leaves are almost flat. The spinesvary in length and width from 1/16 to 3/16". The apex is acute and has asingle spine. The base of the leaf is obtuse. The petiole is 1/4-3/8"long. Mid-veins and laterals are impressed on the upper leaf surface andthe mid-veins are prominent on the underside. The upper surface of theimmature leaves are glossy, glabrous, and are Grey-Purple Group 187A.The lower surface of the immature leaves are Greyed-Purple Group 186Band matte. As the leaves mature the upper surface becomes closest toGreen Group 139A and the lower leaf surface becomes Yellow-Green Group146C. This mature leaf color persists through the winter. Although themature leaf color of the new variety is closest to Green Group 139A,which is also the color of the parent plant, it appears to be a shadelighter when viewed in full sun. This could be due in part to thesemi-glossy leaf surface of the new variety.

In 1992, the date of initial spring growth was March 10, in Poplarville,Miss. After the initial spring flush there was almost continuous growthuntil fall ending October 22, also in Poplarville, Miss. The growth wasidentical to the parent plant. When growth in full sun, the internodelength of this plant and the parent plant is 5/8-11/4". When grown inlight shade the internode length is 11/4-11/2". As would be expectedeither plant grown in shade results in a taller less dense plant withlarger leaves.

The average length of terminal growth of the initial spring flush isabout 12" for a plant in full sun and about 14" when grown in shade.After this initial flush we normally trim the plant lightly and theplant then continues to grow about 8" until we trim it a second time inthe early fall. The fall growth of about 10" then hides the cut limbs.We finish in the fall with a three gallon plant about 34" tall and 20"wide. I have not noticed a difference in vigor between this plant andthe parent.

Although there are many variables involved it should take about 8-10years for this plant to reach a mature height of 15-20 feet and width of12-15 feet. In the landscape little or no pruning is necessary toproduce a dense and pyramidal shrub in full sun. In shade, however, sometrimming may be needed to produce the same effect. The lower limbs canbe removed to produce a small tree with attractive gray-brown bark.

Stems: The young shoots and petioles have a pronounced purplepigmentation, Grey-Purple Group 187A, and are matte. As the stems maturethey become Yellow-Green Group 144A. The stems tips (1/2-1") andpetioles retain the purple pigmentation into the winter. After one ormore years the stems are generally Grey-Brown Group 199C, glabrous andrugose. The pith is solid and uniform. Young and older stems are denselybranched.

Flowers: Small, creamy yellow, inconspicuous, slightly fragrant, borneon previouse season's growth from March to May. Flower structure of thisplant is identical to that of the parent plant. Buds are globular,Yellow-Green Group 144A, and without foliaceous appendages. Flowers areclustered in the leaf axils and are 4-merous. Unbranched pedicels areabout 1/4" long and Yellow-Green Group 144A. The four ovate petals arearranged reqularly, united at the base, and imbricate in bud. The ovaryprotrudes from the recepticle and is Green Group 143A. There are fourstamen with underdeveloped anthers which are White Group 155D. No pollenis produced. Blooms are small to medum in size, Yellow Group 2D, 3/8"diameter, and last on the plant in the garden 2-4 days.

Fruit: Drupaceous, globose, 3/8-7/16" diameter, borne fasciculate with2-5 fruits on short unbranched pedicels 1/4" long. Each fruit contains 4pyrenes. Matures to Red Group 53A in mid -- November in Poplarville,Miss. and persists into winter. Normally fruit set is heavy.

Culure: Grows well in a wide range of conditions and tolerates sun topart shade. Grows in nearly any soil type, from moist to very dry andsand to clay. Responds well to mulching and medium applications offertilizer; prefers ph 5 to 6.5 Little pruning is needed. Can besheared. Propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings any time of the year.

Pests: None serious

I claim:
 1. A new and unique variety of Ilex plant named Ilex Hybrid`Conal` as herein shown and described, is characterized by its dense,upright, and pyramidal growth habit, unique juvenile foliage coloration,semi-glossy mature leaves, distinctly arranged leaf serrations, redfruit, fast growth rate, resistance to pests, and tolerance of heat,drought, and soil type.